Phalaenopsis orchid plant named &#39;PHALDUEL&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALDUEL’, particularly characterized by having white flowers, 1 to 3 peduncles, an inflorescence that is short and moderate, leaves that are acute, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALDUEL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceaefamily, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘PHALDUEL’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 60 species of herbaceousperennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable forcultivar in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantlyepiphytic or rock dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the MalayArchipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy,oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodialgrowth), which vary in size from 12 to 20 cm to over 60 cm. The leavesmay be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in thehorticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for theflorist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home orinteriorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often withmany showy flowers which open in succession beginning with thelowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; thelateral ones being alike. The lowermost petals, called the labellum, arethree-lobed and are often more brightly-colored than the other flowersegments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow,and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexualpropagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which arisefrom the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants aredetached from the mother plants and may be planted in a suitablesubstrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALDUEL’ is particularly characterized by itsattractive and unique white flowers, economical propagation by tissueculture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging andshipping to the market.

‘PHALDUEL’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by theinventor in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALDUEL’ originated from a cross made in January2006 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The female parent is a whitePhalaenopsis pot plant named ‘01-0274’ (unpatented), while the maleparent is a white Phalaenopsis pot plant named ‘22481-01’ (unpatented).A single plant was selected in March 2009 and has been asexuallyreproduced repeatedly by meristem tissue culture in Bleiswijk, TheNetherlands over a 4-year period. The new variety has been found toretain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexualpropagations.

Asexual reproduction of ‘PHALDUEL’ by tissue culture was first performedin January 2012 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and has demonstrated thatthe new cultivar is firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europeon Sep. 30, 2014. ‘PHALDUEL’ has not been made publicly available orsold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing dateof this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

1) White flowers;

2) 1 to 3 peduncles;

3) Inflorescence is short and moderate;

4) Shape of the leaf is acute; and

5) Plants are propagated by meristem tissue culture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, budsand foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Thephotographs are of a 50-week old plant grown in a greenhouse inBleiswijk, The Netherlands in May 2015.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliageof ‘PHALDUEL’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALDUEL’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALDUEL’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘PHALDUEL’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inBleiswijk, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 40-week oldplants which were planted from a nursery tray in 9 centimeter pots andgrown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks, continuedby a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks ina greenhouse of 21° C. Observations were made in May 2015. Colorreadings were taken under 4-6000 lux natural light in the greenhouse.Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (1995).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.        -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.        -   Common name.—Phalaenopsis.        -   Variety name.—‘PHALDUEL’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-0274’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘22481-01’ (unpatented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture.-   Plant:    -   -   Crop time (time to produce a finished flowering plant).—38            to 40 weeks for a 9 cm pot.        -   Growth habit of inflorescence.—Standard, green leaves,            panicle.        -   Height (including pot, including inflorescence).—38.0 cm to            48.0 cm.        -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—21.0 cm to 24.0 cm.        -   Vigor.—Moderate.-   Roots:    -   -   Root description.—Grey-green colored roots with branching            lateral roots having light brown colored root tips.-   Leaves:    -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 7 to 9 leaves are            produced before flowering Length (fully expanded): 11.0 cm            to 13.0 cm Width: 4.5 cm to 5.5 cm Shape: Obovate (see            enclosure 1a) Base shape: Slightly elongated (see enclosure            1b) Apex: Acute unequal (see enclosure 1c) Leaf blade angle            with the petiole (measured from the horizontal position):            Between 15 degrees (see enclosure 1d.A) and 60 degrees (see            enclosure 1d.B) Leaf margin: Entire Color: Upper surface:            RHS 146A Lower surface: RHS 146B Texture: Rough Thickness:            2.6 mm to 2.8 mm Venation: Pattern: Parallel Color of the            midvein: Upper surface: RHS 146A Lower surface: RHS 146B.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 3.        -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—1 to 3.        -   Length.—30.0 cm to 35.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—4.5 mm to 5.5 mm.        -   Strength.—Moderate.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Texture.—Slightly rough.        -   Color.—Green (RHS 146B) and slightly greyed-purple (RHS            183A).        -   Internode length.—45.0 mm to 55.0 mm.        -   Callosities.—None.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, panicle            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 130.0 mm to            180.0 mm Diameter: 3.3 mm to 3.6 mm.        -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 7 to 8 months            after planting in a 9 cm pot.        -   Flower.—Height: 53.0 mm to 58.0 mm Diameter: 57.0 mm to 62.0            mm Depth of lip: 17.0 mm to 19.0 mm (see enclosure 2).        -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 10 to 16 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Flower bud.—Average size: Medium (see enclosure 3a) Length:            1.6 cm to 1.8 cm (see enclosure 3b) Width: 1.4 cm to 1.6 cm            (see enclosure 3c) Shape: Egg shaped (see enclosure 3d)            Color: Green (RHS 144C) and a touch of greyed-purple (RHS            183D).        -   Petals.13 Arrangement: Open/free Shape: Semi-circular (see            enclosure 4a) Apex: Rounded and slightly asymmetric (see            enclosure 4b) Margin: Entire Length (from base to tip): 26.0            mm to 28.0 mm Width: 28.0 mm to 30.0 mm Color (when fully            opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS 155C) Over            color: Absent Lower surface: Basic color: White (RHS 155C)            Over color: Absent.        -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Narrow elliptic (see enclosure 4a)            Apex: Mucronate symmetric (see enclosure 4b) Margin: Entire            Length (from base to tip): 29.0 mm to 31.0 mm Width: 17.0 mm            to 19.0 mm Color (when fully opened): Upper surface: Basic            color: White (RHS 155C) Over color: Absent Lower surface:            Basic color: White (RHS 155C) Over color: Absent.        -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate (see enclosure 4a) Apex: Obtuse            and slightly asymmetric (see enclosure 4b) Margin: Entire            Length (from base to tip): 30.0 mm to 32.0 mm Width: 17.0 mm            to 19.0 mm Color (when fully opened): Upper surface: Basic            color: White (RHS 155C) Over color: Yellow-green (RHS 145C)            Lower surface: Basic color: White (RHS 155C) Over color:            Yellow-green (RHS 145C).        -   Labellum (lip).—Margin: Entire Whiskers: Present Length of            whiskers: 9.0 mm to 11.0 mm (see enclosure 5f) Color of            whiskers: White (RHS 155C) Pubescence on the lip: Absent.        -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Type V (as described in the            International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of            Plants (UPOV) Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis); spatulate            (see enclosure 6a) Length (from base to tip): 18.0 mm to            20.0 mm (see enclosure 6b) Width: 13.0 mm to 15.0 mm (see            enclosure 6c) Color: White (RHS 155C) and yellow (RHS 6A)            and green (RHS 145B) towards the callus.        -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Triangular (see enclosure 7a) Length            (from base to tip): 16.0 mm to 18.0 mm (see enclosure 7b)            Width: 16.0 mm to 18.0 mm (see enclosure 7c) Color: White            (RHS 155C) and yellow-green towards the callus (RHS 1A to            1B).        -   Callus.—Average size: Medium (see enclosure 8d) Height: 5.0            mm to 7.0 mm (see enclosure 8a) Length: 4.0 mm to 6.0 mm            (see enclosure 8b) Width: 3.0 mm to 5.0 mm (see enclosure            8c) Color: Yellow (RHS 13A to 13B) with small dots (RHS            180A).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a            single, short structure called the column, possessing one            terminal anther with pollen grains united into pollinia,            which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located            under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior            with three carpels present.        -   Column.—Length: 9.0 mm to 10.0 mm (see enclosure 9a)            Diameter: 4.0 mm to 5.0 mm (see enclosure 9b) Color: White            (RHS 155C).        -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2 Size: 0.9 mm to 1.1 mm Color:            Yellow-orange (RHS 23A).        -   Ovary.—Part of the pedicel with small ribs towards the            column Length: 7.0 mm to 9.0 mm (see enclosure 9c) Diameter:            2.0 mm to 2.3 mm (see enclosure 9d)        -   Pedicel.—Length: 27.0 mm to 31.0 mm (see enclosure 9e)            Diameter: 2.4 mm to 2.7 mm (see enclosure 9f) Color: Darker            green (RHS 146A) and slightly purple (RHS 9187A) close to            the inflorescence and lighter green towards the flower (RHS            145B to 145D).-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of 15° C. and a    high temperature of about 30° C.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘PHALDUEL’ differs from female parent plant ‘01-0274’ (unpatented) inthat ‘PHALDUEL’ has lateral sepals that are even and a callus withsmaller dots, whereas ‘01-0274’ has lateral sepals that are slightlydotted towards the center of the flower and a callus with larger dots.Additionally, ‘PHALDUEL’ has shorter whiskers of the lip than thewhiskers of ‘01-0274’.

The male parent ‘22481-01’ (unpatented) of ‘PHALDUEL’ is no longeravailable, so a comparison cannot be made.

‘PHALDUEL’ differs from commercial variety ‘PHALBOFAK’ (unpatented) inthat ‘PHALDUEL’ has lateral sepals that are even and the margins of thepetals are entire, whereas ‘PHALBOFAK’ has lateral sepals that arepartially dotted towards the center of the flower and the margins of thepetals are slightly undulated. Additionally, ‘PHALDUEL’ has a Type V(spatulate) shaped lateral lobe, while ‘PHALBOFAK’ has a Type IV (weaklyspatulate) shaped lateral lobe.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named‘PHALDUEL’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.